2 dead, 13 hurt after helicopter crashes in London

LONDON — A helicopter crashed into a crane and fell on a crowded street in central London during rush hour on Wednesday, sending flames and black plumes of smoke into the air. The pilot and one person on the ground were killed and 13 others …

638 illegal elephant tusks found at Kenyan port

MOMBASA, Kenya — Custom officials seized 638 pieces of illegal elephant ivory estimated to be worth $1.2 million at Kenya’s main port, evidence of what wildlife officials described Wednesday as a growing threat to East Africa’s elephants. The ivory was in a container destined for …

Car bombs kill at least 22 in northern Syria

DAMASCUS, Syria — Suicide bombers driving vehicles packed with explosives blew themselves up near security targets in northern Syria on Wednesday, killing at least 22 people, state-run media and activists said. The near simultaneous attacks in the city of Idlib brought the carnage of Syria’s …

Thousands rally for 2nd day in Pakistani capital

ISLAMABAD — Thousands of anti-government protesters heeding the call of a fiery cleric rallied in the streets of the Pakistani capital Tuesday for a second day despite early morning clashes with police who fired off shots and tear gas to push back stone-throwing demonstrators.

Kate Middleton and Prince William’s baby due in July

LONDON — The former Kate Middleton is due to give birth to her first baby in July, and her health is improving after a bout of severe morning sickness, palace officials said Monday.

The child of Kate and Prince William will be third in line …

Beijing warns residents after off-the-charts smog

BEIJING — Beijing schools kept children indoors and hospitals saw a spike in respiratory cases Monday after a weekend of off-the-charts pollution in China’s smoggy capital, the worst since the government began being more open about air-quality data.

Woman gives birth aboard plane, names girl after flight attendant

YEREVAN, Armenia — A passenger has given birth aboard a plane flying to Armenia and named her daughter after one of the flight attendants who helped with the delivery.

The birth of the healthy baby occurred Saturday, two hours before the Armavia airline flight landed …

At least 50 moms breast-feed at mall in protest

SAN JOSE, Costa Rica — At least 50 mothers sat down in a mall’s fast food area and breastfed infants for nearly two hours Saturday, protesting over the shopping center forcing a woman to stop nursing her daughter a week earlier.

The action by Lincoln …

Egypt’s Mubarak questioned over alleged gifts

CAIRO— An Egyptian prosecutor placed a new detention order on Hosni Mubarak on Saturday after the ousted ex-president was questioned over valuable gifts he allegedly received from the country’s top newspaper as a show of loyalty while he was in power, a security official said. …

Hundreds of French troops drive back Mali rebels

BAMAKO, Mali (AP) — The battle to retake Mali’s north from the al-Qaida-linked groups controlling it began in earnest Saturday, after hundreds of French forces deployed to the country and began aerial bombardments to drive back the Islamic extremists.

Haiti quietly marks quake’s 3rd anniversary

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti — President Michel Martelly has presided over a simple ceremony to mark the third anniversary of the killer earthquake that devastated the Caribbean country. The brief gathering was held Saturday where the National Palace stood before it collapsed in the temblor and was …

Kurd protest in Paris demands justice in killings

PARIS — Thousands of Kurds from across Europe descended upon Paris on Saturday, demanding justice for three activists shot dead in the French capital. The Turkish leader, meanwhile, demanded how a wanted militant could have found a comfortable refuge in France.

Red Cross: 200 dead from violence in Kenya’s south

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — The Kenya Red Cross says at least 200 people have been killed in violence in Kenya’s southeast since August in fighting that could be related to political tensions ahead of March elections.

Czechs elect president by direct vote for 1st time

PRAGUE — A former leftist prime minister and the Czech Republic’s conservative foreign minister will face each other in a presidential runoff later this month after finishing Saturday as the top two candidates in the ballot’s first round.

Kate Middleton’s official portrait unveiled

LONDON — Royalty has many perks. There are titles, guards, and palaces. As the former Kate Middleton has discovered, you also get portraits. The first official portrait of the Duchess of Cambridge, as Kate is formally known, was unveiled at the National Portrait Gallery on …